"Daydream Believer" songwiter dies

John Stewart, a former member of the Kingston Trio from 1961 to 1967 who forged a distinguished solo career, has passed away from a brain aneurysm at the age of 68 in San Diego. His composition "Daydream Believer" was a #1 hit for the Monkees in late 1967; his 1969 album California Bloodlines, recorded in Nashville, was a precursor to the country-rock movement; and his big 1979 hit "Gold" featured the backing vocal and instrumental work of Lindsey Buckingham and Stevie Nicks.

Details of this underrated artist's life are mentioned below in this AP article:

Daydream Believer songwriter dies

John Stewart, who wrote the Monkees hit Daydream Believer and was a member of folk group The Kingston Trio, has died.

The 68-year-old suffered a massive stroke or brain aneurysm in San Diego on Friday, according to The Kingston Trio's website.

Stewart joined the group, one of the most successful and influential groups in popular folk, in 1961.

He wrote Daydream Believer, a global hit for The Monkees, in 1967, the same year he left The Kingston Trio.

He went on to record more than 45 solo albums and his biggest solo success came with a US top five single, Gold, in 1979.

'Musical excellence'

Stewart had been told in recent years he was in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease and had suffered numerous minor strokes, his friend Tom DeLisle wrote on The Kingston Trio site.

He collapsed in his hotel room and doctors said any surgery to save his life, if successful, would have left him immobile and unable to speak.